Comments on: Guest Column: Where is the public input on the library? http://rockrivertimes.com/2011/12/28/guest-column-where-is-the-public-input-on-the-library/ The Rock River Times - THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1993 Thu, 23 May 2013 21:13:53 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Jen http://rockrivertimes.com/2011/12/28/guest-column-where-is-the-public-input-on-the-library/comment-page-1/#comment-4425 Jen Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:32:18 +0000 http://rockrivertimes.com/?p=35077#comment-4425 I would like to address the letters from Ms. Leon that have been recently published in this paper regarding the library and the digital technolgy revolution that is currently unfolding throughout the world. First, the library's strategic plan was published on their website for a long time and covered in a RR Star editorial about a year ago. It stated that the library was going to put more resources ($) into digital materials. It was no secret. They asked for public input. I am a Rockford taxpayer & I use the library and guess what? I want more digital materials. You said that at-risk families will not be able to afford e-readers. I am not a wealthy person and I saved up to buy an e-reader. It can be done. The library provides computers and internet service for people who cannot afford to have one at home. They said they plan to provide e-readers also which people can check out. Problem solved. The digital revolution is here and it's not going away. Burying your head in the sand and hugging paper books is not going to stop it. There is a huge change going on in the publishing industry and libraries across the country are developing new plans to stay relative and thrive. I applaud the library for trying to innovate, provide high quality digital services and technology for the community and working to keep the library relevant. Denying the Rockford population access to new and developing technology and digital collections is short sighted and misinformed. If Rockford hopes to succeed and educate its citizens then we need to provide as much access as possible to digital materials and proccesses. It's the future and it isn't going to go away. I also did a great deal of research (on the Internet) and learned that libraries all over the country are spending varying amounts of their collection budgets for digital collections. By the way digital collections include information databases (where people can search for jobs, take educational courses, etc.), periodicals, music, films and books. Why do you want to limit people's access to this timely information? Another point to consider; when people are sitting in their homes or offices downloading books or music on their computers, e-readers, etc, the library won't need as many staff people. They won't need as many people checking out books, shelving books, etc. which will save the taxpayers (me included) money. That will make the library system less expensive to operate. I would like to address the letters from Ms. Leon that have been recently published in this paper regarding the library and the digital technolgy revolution that is currently unfolding throughout the world. First, the library’s strategic plan was published on their website for a long time and covered in a RR Star editorial about a year ago. It stated that the library was going to put more resources ($) into digital materials. It was no secret. They asked for public input. I am a Rockford taxpayer & I use the library and guess what? I want more digital materials. You said that at-risk families will not be able to afford e-readers. I am not a wealthy person and I saved up to buy an e-reader. It can be done. The library provides computers and internet service for people who cannot afford to have one at home. They said they plan to provide e-readers also which people can check out. Problem solved. The digital revolution is here and it’s not going away. Burying your head in the sand and hugging paper books is not going to stop it. There is a huge change going on in the publishing industry and libraries across the country are developing new plans to stay relative and thrive. I applaud the library for trying to innovate, provide high quality digital services and technology for the community and working to keep the library relevant. Denying the Rockford population access to new and developing technology and digital collections is short sighted and misinformed. If Rockford hopes to succeed and educate its citizens then we need to provide as much access as possible to digital materials and proccesses. It’s the future and it isn’t going to go away. I also did a great deal of research (on the Internet) and learned that libraries all over the country are spending varying amounts of their collection budgets for digital collections. By the way digital collections include information databases (where people can search for jobs, take educational courses, etc.), periodicals, music, films and books. Why do you want to limit people’s access to this timely information?

Another point to consider; when people are sitting in their homes or offices downloading books or music on their computers, e-readers, etc, the library won’t need as many staff people. They won’t need as many people checking out books, shelving books, etc. which will save the taxpayers (me included) money. That will make the library system less expensive to operate.

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